X-ray–induced acoustic computed tomography: 3D X-ray absorption imaging from a single view
Siqi Wang, Prabodh Kumar Pandey, Gerald Lee, Rick J. P. van Bergen, Leshan Sun, Yifei Xu, Liangzhong Xiang
Abstract
Computed tomography (CT) scanners are essential for modern imaging but require around 600 projections from various angles. We present x-ray–induced acoustic computed tomography (XACT), a method that uses radiation-induced acoustic waves for three-dimensional (3D) x-ray imaging. These spherical acoustic waves travel through tissue at 1.5 × 10 3 meters per second, much slower than x-rays, allowing ultrasound detectors to capture them and generate 3D images without mechanical scanning. We validate this theory by performing 3D numerical reconstructions of a human breast from a single x-ray projection and experimentally determining 3D structures of objects at different depths. Achieving resolutions of 0.4 millimeters in the XZ plane and 3.5 millimeters in the XY plane at a depth of 16 millimeters, XACT demonstrates the ability to produce 3D images from one x-ray projection, reducing radiation exposure and enabling gantry-free imaging. XACT shows great promise for biomedical and nondestructive testing applications, potentially replacing conventional CT.